Stock 2SS, 6 speed. After looking over the specs for the GMPP 376/480 LS3 and reading articles in Hot Rod and GM High Tech Perf Mag, I would like to install the LS3 hot cam kit GMPP P/N 12480033, .525 lift, 219/228 duration, and associated valve springs. Cost around $500 from Summit. Does anyone know if dealers generally install GM camshafts and give a warranty? City Chevrolet here in Charlotte, NC installs and warranty's headers, exhaust, and even superchargers on the Camaro but I would like to get a consensus and be informed before I call about the upgrade. Memories can be long and I want to keep the warranty. I have always performed all my own upgrades to my vehicles but this is our first new car and dont want to void the warranty on the wife's new car / anniversary present.

To save money you shouldn't need to buy new springs. The springs that come in the LS3 are the LS6 springs which are good to .551" lift. In fact, the HOT cam has less lift, but more duration than, the stock LS3 cam. Just FWIW.

Thanks for the input. I was thinking the same thing about lift but all the reading I have done says to change out the springs because of the increased duration of the hot cam. There isnt a lot of difference in the price with or without the springs so that is favorable. Hot Rod recommends the 918 comp springs for any cam above stock and they are about the same price as the GM springs. If I can get the dealership to install the GMPP kit, I'll go that route. Thanks again.

Stock 2SS, 6 speed. After looking over the specs for the GMPP 376/480 LS3 and reading articles in Hot Rod and GM High Tech Perf Mag, I would like to install the LS3 hot cam kit GMPP P/N 12480033, .525 lift, 219/228 duration, and associated valve springs. Cost around $500 from Summit. Does anyone know if dealers generally install GM camshafts and give a warranty? City Chevrolet here in Charlotte, NC installs and warranty's headers, exhaust, and even superchargers on the Camaro but I would like to get a consensus and be informed before I call about the upgrade. Memories can be long and I want to keep the warranty. I have always performed all my own upgrades to my vehicles but this is our first new car and dont want to void the warranty on the wife's new car / anniversary present.

Thanks.

Hmm Good articles and magazines

One thing that I found with the Hot Cam is that it was a bit diffucult to get the idle tune. It could have been me though. If you get the hot cam insalled be sure to get it tuned afterwards.
GM could deny a warrranty claim should they feel that the cam was the cause of the failure. Will they? Can they prove it? would you want to go through the hassle of fighting? It's your call.

If you look at that article in GM High Tech take a look at the Lingenfelter GT11 cam. For a driver I really like that cam. I have a 237/245 Lunati in the LSA engine at this time. I am thiking about putting that GT11 cam in the car.

Thanks for the input. I was thinking the same thing about lift but all the reading I have done says to change out the springs because of the increased duration of the hot cam. There isnt a lot of difference in the price with or without the springs so that is favorable. Hot Rod recommends the 918 comp springs for any cam above stock and they are about the same price as the GM springs. If I can get the dealership to install the GMPP kit, I'll go that route. Thanks again.

The stock springs would be fine for the Hot Cam.

I used the Comp 918 springs because we had them laying around from the Cam Test for GM High Tech. They worked well with all the cams we tested. They are currently on the GM Performance Parts CNC ported heads we had installed in the Hot Rod story.
When I swapped in the LSA Crate I also used the heads since they were ported and had the good springs.

I'm not worthy!! I have had those articles by my pillow and tried to even learn from osmosis! Awesome writeup! The end result will have ARH LT headers, Cats and ARH exhaust with stock mufflers so my results wont be as dramatic as yours but thanks for all the info!!!

id like to know too. i want to install the gm hot cam in mine but like you dont want the warranty voided.

GM hot cam installed by your dealership "shouldn't" affect your warranty. You should ask around and find a dealership that's mod friendly. Many dealerships will warranty your car as long as you install a GM part (specific to your application) and the work is done by a certified GM installer.

A local Pontiac dealership told me as long as everything is GM and the work is done by a certified GM mechanic, he would cover the warranty.

Great website! Thanks for all the advise! The local dealer is one of THE dealers in the southeast who modifies GM products (Vettes, Camaros, etc) and has GMPP parts in stock so I'll call on Monday and find out. I'll share what they for posterity and I really hope they would honor a warranty for a GM part installed at their GM dealership.

Fantastic read! That article is great. I have yet to see that mag hit stands?? WTF!???

Looking at the info, there are some great cam choices. I like the Katech alot. Looks like a good all around choice for someone like myself who might see limited track time and wants good low end torque.

Any of you pros see a better choice (for a DD) in a car that will prolly see no more than an intake and full long tube exhaust setup?

At least till I finish up saving the rest up for the *caugh* Hellion TT kit....

Stock 2SS, 6 speed. After looking over the specs for the GMPP 376/480 LS3 and reading articles in Hot Rod and GM High Tech Perf Mag, I would like to install the LS3 hot cam kit GMPP P/N 12480033, .525 lift, 219/228 duration, and associated valve springs. Cost around $500 from Summit. Does anyone know if dealers generally install GM camshafts and give a warranty? City Chevrolet here in Charlotte, NC installs and warranty's headers, exhaust, and even superchargers on the Camaro but I would like to get a consensus and be informed before I call about the upgrade. Memories can be long and I want to keep the warranty. I have always performed all my own upgrades to my vehicles but this is our first new car and dont want to void the warranty on the wife's new car / anniversary present.

this article shows a drivability scale... but I dont see the drivability #'s for each cam anywhere in the article. Am I missing something?

I've driven hot cam equipped LS1's, and I'd put it somewhere around 2 or 3. Very choppy idle due to the tight LSA, and idle tuning can be very difficult. The several people I know that put them it, yanked them out soon after. Much better choices out there. Especially since the LS3 has very different heads than that LS1 the hot cam was developed for. There are plenty of Stage 1 type of cams out there, and a ton of custom ground cams with specs more perfected for the LS3/L92 heads.

I had the hotcam on my 01 and with full boltons and cam only it laid down 393hp on straightline's dyno. I never had any issues at idle and it was a very nice sounding cam. People that pulled them out were morons who were "self tuners" just take it to a reputable shop and you'll be fine. Now if you guys find a dealer that will honor your warrant with a gm cam I'd install an ASA CAM since u guys have all the cubes. Here are the specs: GMPP Hot Cam
218/227 int/exh @ 0.05" duration
0.525" / 0.525" int/exh lift
112 LSA
GMPP ASA Cam
226/236 int/exh @ 0.05" duration
0.525" / 0.525" int/exh lift
110 LSA
the Ls6 springs also come with this kit. You guys would love it! This cam was the only cam that could be used in the ASA racing series on the Ls2's. It has bark and a nice bite. Good luck and keep us posted.

http://www.fquick.com/videos/The_HOT...d_at_idle/2420
here is a link to my video just after install untuned for 6 weeks with "0" issues. If you search hotcam on hotrod magazines site you'll see a dyno comparison they had on a 6.0 with like 6-7 other cams. It wasn't thee best but it wasn't no punk either. I believe they have also flogged the ASA cam with good results too.

For the OP's question of.... not voiding the warranty of the wife's car/anniversary present... dealer intall... Just my opinion but the Hot Cam wouldn't be my first choice for that.

Does she really want a choppy race car like idle? You might find a dealer that is willing to install, but then it will need to be tuned. Now you will have an aftermarktet tune, a choppy performance cam idle... doesn't seem to match your wish list. And if someone at that dealer misinforms you that the warranty is still valid (which it is not), what happens when that person is no longer there? Someone that actually knows the warranty policies will be giving you some bad news.

If warranty is a concern, I'd start with stuff a little more warranty friendly like a CAI and catback. If you get comfortable with a little more warranty risk, some LT's...tuning.... maybe then a cam... Even then, not sure that I'd pick something that came out 12 years ago. Been lots of cylinder head and cam development since.